One time, at the Olive Garden, someone slipped me a five so that he could be seated faster. I didn't really know what to do with that. I didn't want to seat him any faster than anyone who'd come in earlier, 'cause that seemed unfair, but once a dude has stealthily slipped money into your hand, it's kinda hard to give it back to him without it being sort of embarrassing for everyone in the vicinity. ("Does that host think he's too good to be bribed at the Olive Garden?... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Greg Nog at 12:35 PM on October 10, 2008

It's interesting that they bring up SoyJoy products, because most of the people I know associate SoyJoy with extremely sad middle-aged women. You know, divorcées whose husbands have run out on them, leaving them with bills they can't pay and housepets they never asked for, etc. That kind of woman, sitting alone in her now-shockingly-empty living room, alternating sips of vodka with bites of SoyJoy brand candy bars. The kind of woman who just can't find the motivation to go to the Yoga class... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Greg Nog at 6:15 AM on October 10, 2008

How has the channel101.com model worked out for the artists (rather than the folks who own the site)?

channel101.com has no business model; it's a thing budding filmmakers can do for publicity, but it doesn't give people actual income. The people I know who've gotten the most out of it have been freelance commercial filmmakers whose success in channel101 gave them exposure that encouraged companies to seek them out for commericals and music videos... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Greg Nog at 9:01 AM on October 10, 2008

THE SCIENCE MEN SAY ME IS MORE BEAUTIFUL NOW
posted to MetaFilter by Greg Nog at 12:25 PM on October 9, 2008

This is why you should talk to your friends and family and even people who are around when the topic comes up. You'll know, because you'll see them bring out some topic that has long been covered, and mention it almost as if to say "what's up with that - tell me", and that's an opportunity to share what you know. It may seem incredible to you and I, but yes, a lot of people are undecided, because they are uninformed. We have to inform them. Because some people just don't know.... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Greg Nog at 9:12 AM on October 7, 2008

Shell should go back to their very first logo. "Here at Shell, we know our hastily-scrawled clams."
posted to MetaFilter by Greg Nog at 9:01 AM on October 7, 2008

(Previously)
posted to MetaFilter by Greg Nog at 11:06 AM on October 6, 2008

Has no one here talked about Joe Biden periodically scratching his face? I liked that, that was unexpected. He did it a couple of times. It seemed like a weirdly incongruous thing for a candidate to do as the focal point of national media attention -- a reminder that he was at ease, just talking, just making his points, addressing the citizens, while Palin was really trying hard to not fail in front of the staring judgemental eyes of pundits.

This... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Greg Nog at 8:47 AM on October 3, 2008

Holy shit, thanks for the heads-up on that, fourcheese. As a New Hampshirite, I'm stunned to see an anti-McCain piece appear in the newspaper whose op-ed pages have mostly just served to infuriate me over the years. Wow. I can't believe they ran that.
posted to MetaFilter by Greg Nog at 7:29 PM on October 5, 2008

*sigh*

I'm gettin' too old for this shit.
posted to MetaFilter by Greg Nog at 11:55 AM on October 4, 2008

Weird Al's original songs are definitely underappreciated. I get "Hardware Store" stuck in my head whenever I g to Home Depot, and I get the theme to "Fun Zone" stuck in my head during every other minute of my life.
posted to MetaFilter by Greg Nog at 1:55 PM on October 3, 2008

why can't us men think of these things? lol
posted to MetaFilter by Greg Nog at 5:26 PM on October 1, 2008

And really, I think she's being a little bit precious by not giving up on the contentious tracks and finding, or creating, new music. There must be hundreds of talented musicians available who would be eager to contribute to a project like this.

The whole movie is basically the songs, though -- everything's synced to the songs, they drive the story. Changing the animation now would be like trying to take The Wizard of Oz as filmed, and composing new... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Greg Nog at 8:36 PM on September 29, 2008

I should think filmmakers would be more positive about their own work; surely it wouldn't fail if they didn't use exactly the right song.

No no, that's what people are saying; this wil fail if she doesn't use these songs. The animation uses the songs as its starting point. Without these eighty-year-old songs, there is no movie. To get a sense of how the film works, check out this clip:

"Hanuman Finds... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Greg Nog at 5:16 AM on September 30, 2008

(I know because I'm one of the jerks on her list of jerks).

Which list of jerks?
posted to MetaFilter by Greg Nog at 12:11 PM on September 30, 2008

Whoops, shit just got Rosa Park'd!
posted to MetaFilter by Greg Nog at 8:28 AM on October 1, 2008

Oh my god, just when I thought Motörhead couldn't get any more awesome.

How do you spoil yourself?
Lemmy: I have strawberries and sugar to dip them in backstage. It’s pretty good.
posted to MetaFilter by Greg Nog at 8:04 AM on October 1, 2008

It must be deeply galling to be deeply involved in a study like this and have to listen to people like gramps using their misunderstanding of your work to rile the stupids.

I know, I kept thinking about some poor researcher -- after spending all day doing mind-numbingly tedious labwork -- getting home, cracking open a longneck, and relaxing in front of the TV to watch the debate. And then hearing that little bon mot and being like, "Oh, what the FUCK now."
posted to MetaFilter by Greg Nog at 8:17 AM on September 29, 2008

Dang. My biggest secret hope for Paul Newman was that in the eventual Watchmen movie, he'd play the old Nite Owl.

Thank you for all your delicious acting and food-products, sir.
posted to MetaFilter by Greg Nog at 7:33 AM on September 27, 2008

My drinking game is to drink a lot and shout at the TV

I'm like "THAT IS MALARKEY"
posted to MetaFilter by Greg Nog at 3:59 PM on September 26, 2008

I was all set to debate, but like, my printer's been acting weird, so like, I couldn't print out my debate cards? And then something with the economy happened? And then like, my roommate asked me to help him with his econ work? 'Cause like, he's really worried? It would just help me a lot if I could have like one more day to work on this.
posted to MetaFilter by Greg Nog at 12:34 PM on September 24, 2008

I love watching the same origin stories, again and again. That is like my favorite thing about superhero movies. I feel like it's the closest we get to the old wandering-bard way of telling stories of a mythic past; everyone knows the basic plot, but the way the story's told varies from teller to teller. The Ang Lee Hulk emphasizes daddy-issues, the TV series Hulk emphasizes impermanence, the Ed Norton Hulk emphasizes power, all with the same basic storyline of "Experiment goes wrong and... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Greg Nog at 11:03 AM on September 23, 2008

Greg Nog, let's you and I get incredibly wealthy and start a movie studio.

Bully, old chap! I shall procure the cigars whilst you find us some monocles! The investors shall roll in by the truckloads, all clamoring to be a part of our grand designs!

Also, there will be moustache wax! Buckets and buckets of moustache wax!
posted to MetaFilter by Greg Nog at 11:26 AM on September 23, 2008

If the problem is teenagers without access to credit cards, why not make a kiosk or something with a USB port that you can plug any USB music player into, insert cash, download music? Put it in malls or somewhere teenagers are already likely to be with wads of disposable income.

I've been wondering this for a while, too. Is this somehow not likely to be profitable? Why isn't Apple setting up little ATM-style kiosks that do this with iTunes, for... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Greg Nog at 2:51 PM on September 22, 2008

Yep, the dude puts 'em on Channel 101 New York. He also does Mister Glasses, which I like a lot better.
posted to MetaFilter by Greg Nog at 11:35 AM on September 22, 2008

am I a bad person if I immediately thought of one or two MeFites who remind me of this guy?

I DO NOT HAVE A FOOT FETISH

FORKTINE I AM IGGYING YOU
posted to MetaFilter by Greg Nog at 5:58 AM on September 20, 2008

Did you check out the links at the top?
posted to MetaFilter by Greg Nog at 10:58 AM on September 19, 2008

This is amateurish hacking. It does nothing to contribute to the political discourse.

lol wut
posted to MetaFilter by Greg Nog at 11:51 AM on September 17, 2008

I was wondering what that Al Gore dude looked like.
posted to MetaFilter by Greg Nog at 2:44 PM on September 16, 2008

So this is probably my favorite passage from Infintie Jest. Maybe it's just 'cause I feel more sympathy with Mario than with any other character, but this always struck me as the most nakedly emotional the book gets:

Mario'd fallen in love with the first Madame Psychosis programs because he felt like he was listening to someone sad read out loud from yellow letters she'd taken out of a shoebox on a rainy P.M., stuff about heartbreak and people you loved dying and U.S.... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Greg Nog at 8:47 AM on September 14, 2008

I think readers shd. be more careful with praise.

Why?
posted to MetaFilter by Greg Nog at 9:10 AM on September 16, 2008

"Surgery is just stabbing in a courteous environment" – A L Kennedy

That one's pretty fantastic.
posted to MetaFilter by Greg Nog at 8:52 AM on September 16, 2008

After this image appeared during the electoral season, a couple of friends made this Magic Card for another forum. Still my favorite.
posted to MetaFilter by Greg Nog at 4:45 PM on September 15, 2008

Fli flop liberal's lies are just one more example of lies from flip-flopping liberals. flip-flop liberality? No! No lies! liberal lies are flip-flops! NO MORE FLIP-FLOPS!
posted to MetaFilter by Greg Nog at 3:06 PM on September 15, 2008

why that thing is screaming so much
posted to MetaFilter by Greg Nog at 1:09 PM on September 12, 2008

Seth MacFarlane takes on Super Mario Brothers.

Is this a Family Guy reference?
posted to MetaFilter by Greg Nog at 3:47 PM on September 11, 2008

AH HA! I fucking KNEW it! Get the eff out there and flirt, anonymous!
posted to MetaFilter by Greg Nog at 12:46 PM on September 10, 2008

It's like saying drinking gin in moderation is ok. yeah it is,but you shouldn't encourage it.

Woman #1: (pours gin from giant jug into dixie cups)

Woman #2: "Wow, you don't care what the kids eat, huh?"

Woman #1: "NOPE"

Kids: "Oh choice they are giving us more gin again"

VO: "Gin."
posted to MetaFilter by Greg Nog at 12:52 PM on September 9, 2008

I don't have cable at my place, which means that although I watch plenty of shows, it's either through internet or DVDs. I do occasionally miss the open-ended "Let's see what's on!" hunt, clicking merrily around with a remote. So when I visit my sister (who does have cable), I'll usually get all excited to watch an evening of cable television.

And it's great! I'll sit down with a nice glass of whisky, a snack, and look at all the wondrous treasures on her... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Greg Nog at 10:31 AM on September 4, 2008

NPH is one of the most respectable actors working at present.
posted to MetaFilter by Greg Nog at 8:40 AM on September 9, 2008

These are fantastic! Although I wish the site had animated gifs showing the way that traps move when they get activated; some of them I'm looking at, and I can't quite figure out how they trap something rather than just sittin' there lookin' pointy.
posted to MetaFilter by Greg Nog at 8:20 AM on September 9, 2008

You're getting too old for sex hen

I would like to see a picture of this "Sex Hen" I keep hearing about.
posted to MetaFilter by Greg Nog at 1:36 PM on September 5, 2008

OH HOLY HELL THIS IS AWESOME
posted to MetaFilter by Greg Nog at 2:08 PM on September 2, 2008

There is only one comic, and that comic is The Outbursts Of Everett True.

Holy shit, this is amazing. It's like the exact halfway point between Hergé and Tony Millionaire. And like, with violent beatings and stuff.

There's such a huge amount of wonderful stuff here; I cannot thank you enough for this FPP.
posted to MetaFilter by Greg Nog at 6:05 PM on September 2, 2008

In response to the increased traffic, we're posting some "Top Ten" style lists for the next few days, to help folks sift through the voluminous content we've managed to amass over the past three years and find the gems.

That's excellent! Thank you!
posted to MetaFilter by Greg Nog at 9:22 AM on September 4, 2008

I don't think that Alison Bechdel- or most of the people in this thread- are zealots who're working to nail blinders to their heads.

I dunno, I'm of the opinion that most male writers already have blinders on our heads; the main benefit of this "Test" is that it's helping us notice them.
posted to MetaFilter by Greg Nog at 7:51 AM on September 3, 2008

Regarding Y: The Last Man, I don't think you can fairly evaluate it in regards to this test; when you create an alternate universe in which all men (except one) are dead, you're consciously changing the entire playing field, which makes the rules sorta meaningless. It's like trying to talk about the racial politics of Thundercats with Panthro as the sole example of a black man.
posted to MetaFilter by Greg Nog at 11:28 AM on September 3, 2008

Welp, this one's headin' for the ol' recycle bin. Let's all talk about our favorite cats, y'all.

I really like Scottish Folds because of their EARS
posted to MetaFilter by Greg Nog at 5:21 PM on September 2, 2008

Regarding Boston and Shaun: ten bucks says that someone, somewhere, is masturbating to the middle panel of this strip right at this very moment.
posted to MetaFilter by Greg Nog at 11:46 AM on August 30, 2008

In isolation, I think the strip with the ice-skating sparrow is near perfect. The trickster-god suckerpunch you anticipate in the third panel never comes; instead, there's the surreal line "Thank you, Loki!"

I want to point out that the sparrow actually says, "Thank you, Loki." Not an exclamation point, but a period. There's something about the placidity there that pulls the strip into an even more unsettling place. The sparrow... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Greg Nog at 3:51 PM on August 30, 2008